HAMLET — Police have filed charges in a recent vehicle theft ring following a chase Wednesday.
Two teens suspected of stealing Kias and Hyundais in the Seaboard City in the past two weeks led officers on a pursuit through town before crashing in the Briarwood community, according to Maj. Hudson Chitwood of the Hamlet Police Department.
With help from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, HPD apprehended the two suspects: a 15-year-old from the Fayetteville area; and a 13-year-old from Richmond County.
Chitwood said the older teen is believed to be the leader of a ring that resulted in the theft or attempted theft of eight Kia and Hyundai vehicles in Hamlet.
Because of their ages, the defendants names cannot be released.
All of the stolen vehicles were recovered within the city limits, however many of them were left damaged, according to Chitwood.
Click here to read the RO’s initial story on the Kia thefts.
The suspects are facing a list of charges including: larceny of a motor vehicle; breaking and entering a motor vehicle; fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle; and resisting a public officer.
Chitwood said more charges and arrests may be pending as the investigation continues.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
